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“Children are the world's most valuable resource and its best hope for the future.”

John Fitzgerald Kennedy

What does the future look like to a child without hope?

Abused and neglected children come from every neighborhood, race, color, creed and socioeconomic background. They have but one thing in common–the adults they depend on are unwilling, or unable, to give them the love, guidance and support every child needs to become a productive adult.

We can’t change the past, but we can change the future.

For many such children in Harrison, Marion and Panola counties, the CASA volunteer may be the one adult who cares if they get to school on time, eat decent meals, and have a coat when it’s cold. The one who believes in what they can become. Because their future is our community’s future.

Hard Facts

• 1 out of every 100 Texas children is abused or neglected, 59% under age 6, an incident every 8 minutes
• 19 associated deaths each month, 82% under age 5
• There are only enough CASA advocates for half of the 43,000 kids in the care of the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services

Hard Time

• 59% more likely to be arrested as a juvenile
• 28% more likely to be arrested as an adult
• 30% more likely to commit violent crime
• 31% percent of women in U.S. prisons were abused as children
• 65% of people treated for drug abuse reported abuse as children

Hard Life

• 2.5 times more likely to abuse alcohol
• 3.8 times more likely develop drug addictions
• 25% more likely to experience teen pregnancy
• 3 times less likely to practice safe sex
• 30% will later abuse their own children

Hard Costs

• In 2007 abuse and neglect cost Americans an estimated $104 billion

To protect the privacy of abused and neglected children in Harrison, Marion and Panola counties, none of the children depicted
on this website are actual CASA clients.